According to the recent Coldwell Banker College Home Price Comparison Index, Northern Illinois University ranks 25th out of 120 schools for having affordable homes in the area to purchase, as NIU's 2009 average home price is $185,500, which is better than 21 of the current BCS top-25 schools. When sorted by conference, the Mid-American Conference tops all leagues with a 2009 average home price of $182,322.

HUSKIES SPANN THE EAGLES 50-6

NIU celebrates after one of two long and untouched TD runs by Chad Spann.

In case you did not catch the game live, or missed Tommy Davis' opening kickoff TD return that was ESPN's Sportscenter top play of the night, the Huskie football team dominated the Eagles last night, 50-6, behind a team-wide strong performance that saw NIU better EMU in nearly every facet of the game.

There's a lot of material to browse about this nice Huskie victory, so let's start with our recap, quotes, notes and photo gallery. Here's the Rockford Register Star's recap by Jay Taft. Here's the Chicago Tribune's recap by Fred Mitchell. This is the A.P. story. Here is the Aurora Beacon-News' recap by Rick Armstrong, who also did a feature on NIU QB DeMarcus Grady. The Northern Star has three stories to read: Ben Gross did a recap and a story on Chad Spann's two big runs, while Seamus Brennan did a recap as well. The Daily-Chronicle also had extended coverage of the Huskie win. Start with the HuskieWire.com blog. Here's John Sahly's recap and his extended breakdown of Davis' huge kickoff return.

After just four days since their last win, the Huskies return to Huskie Stadium tonight! NIU will take on Eastern Michigan at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) under the lights in a Mid-American Conference game that will be broadcast on ESPNU. For previews of the big game, click here, here, here, and here. If you can't make it out to Brigham Field, you can also follow with live stats or listen to the radio broadcast.

The NIU volleyball team plays on the road tonight! The Huskies begin their season ending four-match road trip tonight with a 6 p.m. (CDT) contest against West Division first place Western Michigan as NIU looks to earn a bye in the first round of the MAC Tournament by getting the fourth seed away from Central Michigan, who is currently tied with NIU for that fourth spot. For a preview of the match check out this and that. Live stats can be found here.

MORE BASKETBALL COVERAGE IN ROCKFORD

By Brett McWethy | Posted at 9:08 am on Thursday, November 5, 2009

We found more Huskie basketball coverage from media day! WIFR-TV (CBS-23) was in attendance and put together a nice package on both the men's and women's team. Check it out here!

FOR YOUR LISTENING & VIEWING PLEASURE

By Joe Summins | Posted at 7:20 pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Due to the Huskies' game with Eastern Michigan tomorrow night, "NIU Live" will air TONIGHT on WSCR 670-AM The Score at 10 p.m. Recent NIU Hall of Fame inductee Bill Baker "The Voice of the Huskies" joins host Andy Garcia as the two discuss the upcoming football game with the Eagles as well as the upcoming men's and women's basketball seasons.

Also, be sure to catch flip on Comcast SportsNet tonight. They will have a feature on NIU defensive lineman Jake Coffman airing during the 10 p.m. Sports Nite. Coffman, a former Marine talks about his time the Corps and the Huskie football team.

Lindsey Willhite has this story in the Daily Herald on Northern Illinois' football game against Eastern Michigan tomorrow. It's a nice one-stop preview of each team's situation heading into the last third of the season.

HITTING THE MAT

By Joe Summins | Posted at 12:50 pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2009

In preparation for its annual Wrestle-offs Friday night in Victor E. Court at the Convocation Center, the Northern Illinois University wrestling team is conducting a mini-tournament to determine the match ups for Friday. The first half wrapped up yesterday and will conclude later this afternoon. Below are the results from the first day of competition. Be sure to check the website later today for complete information regarding Friday's wrestle-offs.

The Huskie men's soccer team finishes the regular season at home today with a big match against Western Michigan. Kick-off is at 2 p.m. for a game that has major MAC Tournament seeding implications. As Mike Buda illuminates in today's Northern Star, the Huskies win and they will face Hartwick in the conference semifinal. A loss puts NIU against the consensus No. 1 team in the nation, undefeated Akron.

Northern Illinois has been playing top-notch soccer lately, and will hope to carry the momentum of four straight wins through the Broncos and into the MAC Tournament. You can read more about NIU's hot streak in the NIUHuskies.com match preview.

Fans get into the match at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex for FREE, so come on out and support the Huskies! If you can't make it, you can follow the action with GameTracker.

BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY WRAP-UP

By Brett McWethy | Posted at 9:59 am on Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Lots to get to from yesterday's Huskie basketball media day festivities. First, you can read the transcripts from both Carol Owens and Ricardo Patton's press conferences, along with both men's and women's player quotes.

Now for the local and regional coverage from the attending media. John Sahly from the DeKalb Daily Chronicle and HuskieWire.com had this story about Darion "Jake" Anderson possibly seeing more time at the point guard position this season.

Seamus Brennan from the Northern Star had this recap of the festivities, focusing on both Silas and freshman Tony Nixon, who is fresh off a state championship at Seton Academy, and had an impressive debut versus Aurora in the exhibition opener.

Now onto the television coverage. Both Scott Leber and Adam Warner from WTVO in Rockford were on hand, and Leber included a nice package on the men's team during Tuesday's night's newscast. Coach Patton, Darion "Jake" Anderson and Xavier Silaswere all interviewed in the piece.

Finally, another preseason prediction has the Huskies atop the MAC-West at the end of the season. Elton Alexander, the MAC beat writer from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, says NIU has the best scoring backcourt in the league, thus the first-place prognostication. He tabs Akron to capture the league championship.

Two former NIU baseball players have made an impact at the professional baseball level as Joe Mazzuca (2003) recently played for Team Italy in the World Baseball Tournament and Nick Hall (2003-06) (pictured above) inked a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. To read more about these two Huskies and their professional advancement, click here.

Today is NIU basketball media day at the Convocation Center! The festivities will begin with head football coach Jerry Kill speaking to the media at 11:20 a.m. (CDT) and shortly after lunch will be served. Then around noon associate v.p./athletics director Jeff Compher will introduce women's basketball head coach Carol Owens to the media. After Owens is done speaking, she will then introduce men's basketball head coach Ricardo Patton and after he is done speaking, several Huskie players will be available for one-on-one interviews. Once the interviews are wrapped up around 12:50 p.m., the women's team will hold an open practice at 1 p.m.

Today is also "Huskie Basketball Tip-Off" as fans will have an opportunity to meet and greet the NIU men's and women's basketball coaching staffs at Eduardo's from 6-8 p.m. Complimentary food will be offered during the two-hour event as both head coaches Ricardo Patton and Carol Owens will speak to the crowd about the upcoming 2009-10 season. This is a great chance to get familiar with the Huskies before they get the season underway. So don't miss it!

Former Huskie star running back Michael Turner (2000-03) shined on Monday Night Football last night by producing his best game of the season despite the fact that his team, the Atlanta Falcons, lost to the undefeated New Orleans Saints 35-27. Turner started the night's scoring by giving the Falcons a 7-0 lead on a 13-yard run early in the first quarter and finished the game with 151 yards on 20 carries with the longest run being a tough 37-yard scamper with several broken tackles.

The Northern Star's Jackie Thyfault caught up with NIU volleyball senior setter Amanda Tadla yesterday for a "Five Minutes With" interview. Among the topics discussed were about her last home match, her best memories of her career and what to do with her time when volleyball is over. Click here to read the interview.

NIU Cheerleaders Honor Soldiers Overseas

By Megan Wallace | Posted at 12:05 pm on Monday, November 2, 2009

Northern Illinois student-athletes are actively involved in the community, this includes the Huskie cheerleaders. A few months ago, NIU cheerleaders drove up to Rockford to entertain families and children whose loved ones were were away at war. In giving back to the community, these cheerleaders were able to experience what these families have gone through first hand. The cheerleaders gave back to those who give so much for us.

Last week, one of the soldiers, whose family the NIU cheerleaders had visited, returned home from war. He presented NIU head cheerleading coach Trish Rodeghero with a flag that was flown in Afghanistan in front of the enemy in honor of the NIU cheerleaders.

Receiving this flag was an honor for the NIU Cheerleaders and a reminder of the impact and involvement of the NIU student-athletes in community.

Fans Celebrate Halloween with Huskies

By Megan Wallace | Posted at 11:46 am on Monday, November 2, 2009

Over 200 Huskie fans celebrated Halloween with coaches and players from the men's and women's basketball teams Saturday at the Huskie Halloween Bash. Student-athletes from both teams handed out candy to trick-or-treaters at the Convocation Center. Fans in attendance were able to meet and play games with some of their favorite Huskies.

After knowing their alma mater secured a victory on Saturday, a pair of Huskie alums enjoyed a nice day in the NFL on Sunday as Garrett Wolfe (2004-06) and Sam Hurd (2002-05) helped the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys, respectively, earn blow-out wins.

Wolfe ended up with a career-high 53 rushing yards on five carries, highlighted by a 36-yard scamper, to help the Bears take down the Cleveland Browns 30-6.

Hurd had only one catch, but it was a good one, as he scored his second career touchdown on a 36-yard strike from Tony Romo to put up the first six of 38 Cowboy points against the Seattle Seahawks, who only managed 17 points.

Oh, and do not forget to watch former Huskie Michael Turner (2000-03) and the Atlanta Falcons take on the undefeated New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football tonight!

The NIU volleyball team split its last two home regular season matches over the weekend as the Huskies swept Toledo on Friday, but were swept by Ball State on Saturday. Check out Northern Star writer Jackie Thyfault's weekend recap.

Despite only 10,148 fans at Huskie Stadium in NIU's 27-10 win over Akron on Saturday, the Huskies were still able to take advantage of being at home. The Northern Star's Chris Dertz documented how playing at home has more advantages than just having loud fans getting into the opponent's heads all day long.

A few days back I put up a picture I took on the bus back from the men's soccer team's win over Wisconsin. It was off a cut on Josh Karsten's head, demonstrating the physicality of the game. Here's a shot of the cut right after it happened, courtesy of Josh's dad Bruce Karsten (not for the faint of heart).